Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFLOTU3’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFLOTU3’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a single-stem (disbudded) cut flower; large decorative-type inflorescences with light purple-colored ray florets; and relative resistance to  Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp.  chrysanthemi.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum x morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFLOTU3’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Mar. 20, 2019

Ser. No. 62/919,611

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S.Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFLOTU3’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination inOctober, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number DB 43373 as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as codenumber DB 43727 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemumplant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in April, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativecuttings since April, 2014 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown thatthe unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFLOTU3’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFLOTU3’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves,    -   3. Uniform flowering habit.    -   4. Strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a        single-stem (disbudded) cut flower.    -   5. Large decorative-type inflorescences with light        purple-colored ray florets.    -   6. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.        chrysanthemi.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum havelight purple-colored ray florets whereas plants of the female parentselection have white-colored ray florets. In addition, ray florets ofplants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as strongly revolute as rayflorets of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum havelight purple-colored ray florets whereas plants of the male parentselection have light orange-colored ray florets. In addition, rayflorets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are not as concave as rayflorets of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Delirossano’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily fromplants of ‘Delirossano’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants ofthe new Chrysanthemum are darker purple in color than ray florets ofplants of ‘Delirossano’. In addition, inflorescences of plants of thenew Chrysanthemum are denser and have more ray florets thaninflorescences of plants of ‘Delirossano’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFLOTU3’ grown as adisbud-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view oflower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of thephotographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and leaves(right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 20° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-typeplants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the following description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘DLFLOTU3’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB            43373, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB            43727, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            weeks at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 72.4            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 78.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 16.9 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 68 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 143A tinged with            close to 148A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 13.3 cm. Width: About 8.6 cm. Shape: Oblong to            elliptic or ovate. Apex: Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely serrate to crenate;            sinuses convergent and deep. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately            velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety;            matte. Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully developed            leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; venation, close to            146B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 146C. Petioles: Length: About 3.8 cm.            Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to            146B to 146C; edges, close to 137B. Color, lower surface:            Close to between 146B and 147B; edges, close to 137B.            Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,            opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:            About 7 mm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Texture            and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose;            moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly            velvety; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to NN137B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Decorative uncurved inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets            (disc florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne            perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright; ray and            disc florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            50 days later when grown as a disbud-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in            an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will            maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a disbud-type, all            lateral inflorescences are physically removed and only the            terminal inflorescence is allowed to develop; if grown as a            spray-type, then typically about 15 inflorescences will            develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Grown as a disbud type, about            13.6 cm and grown as a spray-type, about 8.6 cm. Depth            (height): Grown as a disbud type, about 7.6 cm and grown as            a spray-type, about 3.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 7 mm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About            1.3 cm. Shape: Broadly ovoid. Texture and luster: Distally,            smooth and glabrous; proximally, slightly to moderately            pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 137B; immature            ray florets, close to 76B to 76C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 340 arranged in            about nine whorls. Length: About 5.4 cm; varying between 7.3            cm and 1.7 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm; varying between 0.2 cm            and 1.8 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate; moderately concave and            moderately carinate. Apex: Obtuse to finely praemorse. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially            upright to about 90° from vertical. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte to slightly glossy. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 76C; towards the base,            close to 84C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 76D.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between 76B and 84C;            venation, close to between 76B and 84C; color does not            change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 76D; venation, close to 76D; color does not change with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About twelve            spirally arranged in about three whorls at the center of the            receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 6 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube;            upper 15% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, distally:            Entire. Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and            outer surfaces: Close to 150D; towards the apex, close to            N144C and towards the base, close to 145D. Color, fully            opened, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 150D; towards the            apex, close to N144C and towards the base, close to 145D.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 32            arranged in three whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About            4 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to            143B; margins, translucent and close to 156A and 200B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 137B; margins, translucent            and close to 156A and 200B.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 4.1 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 4 mm. Length, third            peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About 6.5 cm.            Diameter, third peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly            upright. Aspect, third peduncle (when grown as a            spray-type): About 40° from the flowering stem axis. Texture            and luster: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Close            to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 150D. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther            color: Close to 13A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Quantity: One per ray floret. Pistil length: About            1 cm. Style length: About 9 mm. Style color: Close to 145C.            Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent.            Stigma color: Close to 153C. Ovary color: Close to 145D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.    sp. chrysanthemi. To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not    been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to    plants grown under commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFLOTU3’ as illustrated and described.